EU Prepares 21st Russia Sanctions Package as Trade With Moscow Falls More Than 75%
Updated
Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jun 26
EU Prepares 21st Russia Sanctions Package as Trade With Moscow Falls More Than 75%
3 articles · Updated · Kyiv Independent · Jun 26
Summary
July is the target for the EU to adopt a 21st sanctions package on Russia, after foreign ministers approved a mini-package on June 15 and agreed to renew sanctions annually instead of every six months.
€260 billion in prewar EU-Russia trade has shrunk to €58 billion, sanctions envoy David O'Sullivan said, arguing the bloc is nearing full decoupling apart from areas such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture and some nuclear fuel.
27 EU countries still must approve new listings unanimously, leaving some proposals blocked even as Brussels pushes for rolling updates to close fresh sanctions-evasion routes through third countries.
U.S. and U.K. energy-related waivers after February's Iran shock have not changed the broader line, O'Sullivan said, with the U.K. already set to ban diesel and jet fuel made from Russian crude from Jan. 1, 2027.
With Hungary's long-standing veto finally lifted, what is the ultimate limit for the EU's economic war on Russia?
After sanction waivers gave Russia a windfall, is the Western economic front against Putin fracturing?
Russia's ghost fleet now spies and sabotages. How will Europe defend its vital undersea infrastructure?
The EU’s 21st Sanctions Package: Escalating Economic Pressure and Global Implications for Russia (2026)
Overview
As of June 27, 2026, the European Union is finalizing its 21st sanctions package, introducing new measures aimed at crippling Russia’s war economy, combating disinformation, and preventing sanctions evasion. These actions reflect the EU Council’s ongoing commitment to maintain and expand restrictive measures as long as Russia continues its illegal actions in Ukraine. The package specifically targets individuals and entities involved in spreading propaganda, while also strengthening economic and trade restrictions. This comprehensive approach demonstrates the EU’s determination to increase pressure on Russia and uphold international law.